Boating is one of the most popular summer activities in the prairies. To ensure your boat battery works when you need it to, here’s an overview of what you need to know about storing it.
What’s a marine battery?
Marine batteries are classified as deep-cycle batteries and starting batteries. Knowing what type you require is important when purchasing your battery. This means they are specifically designed to provide steady, reliable power over an extended period of time or high cranking power for starting. However, deep-cycle batteries and starting batteries do not do well in extreme temperatures which means you need to take extra precautions when storing them over the winter months.
Storing marine batteries
Struggling to start your boat in the summer is an indication the battery was improperly stored over the winter. To prevent this from happening, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to correctly store your marine batteries:
Clean the battery. Before putting it into storage for the winter, it’s important to clean your boat battery. This includes wiping down the top and bottom, cleaning the terminals and checking for corrosion and leaks.
Charge the battery. Marine batteries should always be stored with a full charge. This will prevent the battery from freezing and reduce the risk of diminishing the battery’s capacity.
Remove the battery. It’s a good idea to remove the battery entirely from your boat and store it off the ground in a cool, dry place such as a basement or garage. If you don’t plan on completely removing the battery from your boat, make sure that you disconnect it from all the terminals to prevent it from discharging too quickly.
Check the charge monthly. All batteries will lose a certain amount of charge each month, even when they’re not in use. To prevent the charge on your boat battery from dropping dramatically, you should check the voltage with a voltmeter every month. To save time, you may want to consider investing in a trickle charger to easily maintain the voltage over winter.
Lastly, correctly storing your marine batterycan lengthen its life, save you money and keep it working as well as the day you bought it.
Top Marine Battery Dealer Canada
Prairie Battery is your one-stop shop for automotive, marine and power sports batteries, as well as related accessories. We carry an extensive lineup of industry-leading brands and can help you find the product you’re looking for. For expert advice and service, contact us at our Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, Greater Toronto area or Edmonton location.